Termites (Insecta: Isoptera) diversity in forest conseccion areas of PT Inhutani I, Indonesia

Abstract

Termites as wood biodeterioration agents have an important role in the ecosystem. This study aimed to observe termite diversity. A termites survey was conducted on Forest Concession Areas of PT. Inhutani I, South Sulawesi Indonesia. The termite specimens collected used the standardized transect sampling protocols at three different sites (forest with mixed vegetation, Pinus merkusii plantation, and logged-over area; and measurement of nine morphological characters of the soldier was conducted, i.e: head length without mandibles, head width at base of mandible, maximum width of head, left mandible length, pronotum length, maximum width of pronotum, postmentum length, postmentum width of postmentum, and the number of antenna segments. The results showed that there are four species found based on the morphological characteristics and morphometrical data, namely: Odontotermes javanicus., Nasutitermes sp., Schedorhinotermes sp. and Coptotermes curvignathus. The highest termite abundance was found in forest with mixed vegetation. The termite diversity in logged-over area and forest with mixed areas was moderate, while species diversity in pine plantation was low.